Packaging method and machine

ABSTRACT

A machine having a row of article supports for supporting a plural succession of corresponding columns or files of articles on said supports in which a leading article at one of the corresponding ends of each succession is positioned for discharge, one at a time, with a container on a support therefor passing said one of said ends, and an article releasing mechanism adjacent said one end of each succession actuatable by movement of the support for each container passing said one of the ends of said successions for releasing articles, one at a time from said one of said ends.

[4s] Mar. 21, 1972 United States Patent Riley 6/1968 Ehe et [54] PACKAGING METHOD AND MACHINE 3,389,531 2,625,255 1/1953 Carter,.... 3,314,212 4/1967 [72] Inventor: Lloyd D. Riley, Danville, Calif.

Peppler.................

Primary Examiner-Robert L. Spruill Affervslzeyksn, MohlerriFeSsf L Schwab Filper Corporation, San Ramon, Calif.

0 7 9 1 4, l v. m .e. e n.. ,wed Se s AF MN 72 [l [21] Appl. No.: 37,131

[52] U.S. 53/240, 53/244 Int. 5/10 .53/26, 35, 126, 240, 244, 249;

[58] Field of Search..............,

responding ends of each succession is positioned for discharge, one at a time, with a container on a support References Cited therefor passing said one of said ends, and an article releasing mechanism adjacent said one end of each succession actuata- UNITED STATES PATENTS ble by movement of the support for each container passing said one of the ends of said successions for releasing articles, one at a time from said one of said ends.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures mi ...u hm rgb aua CHL www@ me' 3,650,083

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JEloyd SD. Riley www, KMA; a JWM ATTORNEY! PAIENIEUMARM |972 3,550,083

'IZ/WE 2 lqyd D, Riley INVENTOR ATTORNEYS PACKAGING METHOD AND MACHINE SUMMARY This invention relates to the art of packaging and more particularly to a machine for packaging a predetermined number of articles wherein means are provided to arrange, from a random quantity of articles, plural succession or columns of the articles and release them from each succession one at a time into a container.

The articles preferably are substantially round, as for example, citrus fruits, apples, onions and some shapes of potatoes. The more nearly round the articles are, the more eicient will be thlmachine; but, limited degrees of oblateness or deformation are easily within the capabilities of the machines func IlOIl.

AThe invention involves a mechanical system for arranging from a random supply of articles plural successions thereof and releasing one article from each succession into a container as it travels by the arrayed discharge ends thereof. The number or articles placed in the container is equal to the number of successions functioning during a particular container transit. t

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a versatile article packaging machine by means of which -a selected number of articles may be packed, varying from one to the built-in capacity ofthe machine.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a packaging machine having means for arranging random articles into columns or successionsfrom which the articles are released successively into plural containers moving by the discharge ends of the successions, the 'release being effected by a control mechanism actuated by the movement of each container thereby.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide in the foregoing reference a clutch actuated rotatablewheel having plural circumferentially spaced article pockets each movable from a receiving station to a discharge station by means of incremental radial movements effected by said clutch.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel method of disengaging meshed gears to serve as said clutch.

The foregoing and other objects and `advantages of the present invention will ybecome more apparent from the following specification when considered in association with the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the invention is graphically illustrated.

In the accompanying drawings where like reference numerals are employed to designate similar parts throughout:

FIG. l is an isometric view `of the arrangingland control portion of my invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 2-2 of FIG. 1,in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the control mechanism shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation taken on'a plane through the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, taken in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIG. 5 is an 'elevation of the power transmission carried by the subframe; and

FIG. 6 is an elevation of said transmission rotated 90 counterclockwise from FIG. 5, i.e., looking'from the left of FIG. 5.

Referring now more particularly to the several views of the drawing, I have provided frame l0 having subframe '11 serving as a base for the machine.

Carried by subframe 11 are'two electric motors l2 and 13. Motor 12,'by means of V-belt 14 (FIG. 6) drives a power train, encased in housing l5, which in turn rotatesmain shaft 16. At one end shaft 16 carries sprocket 17 (FIG. 5) which drives chain 18, to rotate continuously and at a constant speed, eccentric 19 (FIG. 5) interconnected by pitman 20 to rock lever 21 and thusly to oscillate rock-shaft 22 (FIGS. 1, 5) to which floating frame 24 is connected by rock links 23 to adapt the floating frame for `rectilinear oscillations in the direction of double-ended arrow 25.

Main shaft 16 is also provided with bevel gear 26 (FIGS. l, 6) which enmeshes with companion bevel gear 27 (FIG. 6) drivingly carried by a jack shaft 28 adapted to drive eccentric 29 (FIG. 5) which, through pitman 30 effects rectilinear oscillation of laterally inclined oscillating plate 31 (FIG. 6) in the direction of double-ended arrow 32.

Frame l0 (FIG. l) carries paired side-by-side but otherwise coincident endless belt conveyors 33-33 which are inclined from their lower edges contiguous to the oscillating plate upwardly at a selected angle manually adjustably fixed by articulate linkage 34. The belts of conveyors 33-33 are trained about parallel upper and lower belt rollers 35 and 36. The lower rollers are rotated by V-belt transmission 37 trained about pulley 38, driven by motor 13, and pulley 39, adapted to drive rollers 36 and move the top flight of the conveyor belts in the direction indicated by arrows 4040.

Contiguous to and at the side of inclined oscillating plate 3l, opposed to conveyors 33, I provide a series of parallel troughs 41-41 mounted upon floating frame 24 and thus subject to rectilinear oscillations therewith.

Each of the article supporting elements-conveyors 33 33, oscillating plate 3l and troughs 4l-is inclined so that the articles which the machine is adapted to package will roll by gravity from a random quantity placed upon conveyors 33- 33 across plate 31 to form successions or columns of articles in each trough. The various oscillations are effected to impart adequate lateral and horizontal movement in the articles to facilitate their entry into the elevated receiving ends of the troughs.

At the lower discharge end of each trough 4l, I provide a control mechanism generally comprising wheel 50 (FIGS. 1, 3) journaled for rotation about horizontal countershaft 52 extending laterally of its respective trough so as to present sequentially plural, circumferentially spaced pockets defined by adjacent radiating fingers 51-51. In the drawings I have shown fingers 51-5l, and thus the pockets defined thereby, quadrantially arranged but more or fewer may be provided, if desired.

FIG. 2 shows wheel 50 disposed after having received an orange 0 from the succession 01, 02 on and is momentarily cradling it while controlling the gravity flow of the balance of the succession 01, 02, on reposing in the associated trough 4l. In this position, countershaft 52 journaled in spaced arms 53-53 of tilt frame 54, is in its elevated or raised position, the wheel having just rotated clockwise past the receiving station wherein orange 0 moved by gravity, into its pocket at substantially the coincident moment the preceding orange 03 was discharged from the preceding pocket through its open mouth and into container 55 carried by plural container supporting and actuating device 56 adapted to support containers with their open mouths positioned to move along a predetermined path adjacent to the discharge ends of troughs 41 to sequentially receive articles therefrom.

In the position shown, orange 0 is intermediate the receiving station and its discharge station. This momentary resting position is effected by means of cam 57 having saddle 58 in which one of plural dogs 59, fixed to and projecting from a side face of peripherally toothed gear 60, is supported. Gear 60 is drivingly carried by countershaft 52 and in said intermediate position, the peripheral teeth of gear 60 are held disengaged with respect to companion gear 6l drivingly connected to driving shaft 62 which is constantly rotating, being driven from shaft 16 by V-belt transmission 63.

Cam 57 is fixed to lever 64 pivoted at its inner end for horizontal rotation about the vertical axis of pin 65 and is yieldably held in the position shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, by tension spring66. When lever 64 is momentarily moved in the direction of arrow 67 (FIG. 3), cam S7 is shifted in .the same direction (arrow 68, FIG. 4) out of supporting relationship to dog 59.and tilt frame 54 is permitted to drop by gravity, engaging gears 60 and 61 and thus driving wheel 50 by the receiving and discharge stations to discharge one orange 0 and receive the next successive orange 0l, whereupon the next successive dog 59 contacts cam 57, to elevate tilt frame 54 and thereby disengage the meshing teeth of gears 60 and 61 simultaneously with the dog 59 becoming captured by saddle 58.

At the outer end of lever 64, I provide axially vertical sleeve 67 in,which is journaled one leg 71 of U-shape member 70 which is yieldably held in the position shown by tension spring 66 attached at point 68 spaced from the axis of leg 71 to apply biasing torque to maintain the position shown. When finger 80 of container support and actuating device 56, moving along its course of transit, strikes outer leg 72 of the member 70, it shifts the lever as hereinbefore described and thence the member may pivot about the axis of leg 7l to further shift leg 72 as indicated by arrow 73 and thus provide a lost motion or yieldable connection to allow for necessary clearances between moving parts. g

In FIG. 1 it is seen that I have provided a series of troughs 41, each with its control mechanism 50-72. It should also be understood that the container support and advancing device will carry plural containers 55, each having its associated actuating finger 80 disposed to effect discharge of an orange into the container from successive troughs 41 until the desired number of oranges have been contained. The quantity may be variable up to the number of troughs 41, each of which holds one succession, by blocking entrance to the troughs. For example, if only three troughs are open, only three oranges will be placed in each successive bag 55.

lt should be seen that while I have described this invention in relation to oranges, the term articles is employed to include any and all items which can be handled like the descriptive oranges. Furthermore, I do not wish to be limited to bags as the packaging device and therefore employ the term containers to include any and all operable devices for containing articles that are subject to the practice of this invention.

Having thusly described my invention, what I desire to protect by Letters Patent, and what I claim is:

l. In a machine, including a main frame, for numerically packaging plural rollable articles of approximately the same size and shape:

a. article-supporting means for supporting said articles in plural successions for movement to separate discharge points providing a leading end article in each succession adjacent said discharge point for discharge therefrom, and a trailing end article at the opposite end of each succession,

b. feed means for feeding articles from a random supply to the trailing ends of said successions for maintaining a supply of articles in each succession in engagement with each other,

. container-supporting means for supporting and moving plural containers in a row in one direction longitudinally of said row past said discharge points in article-receiving positions for receiving a leading end article in each container from each of said successions,

d. control means including an article-moving and supporting device engageable with the leading article in each succession for moving each such article away from its companion succession to a resting position spaced from said companion succession, said article-moving device being actuated by movement of each container-supporting means past each of said discharge points for forcibly discharging each such article from said resting position into each container during movement of said containers therepast and for moving said companion succession to said resting position for discharge into the next container in said row upon actuation thereof, and

e. power means operatively connected with said element for actuating the latter under power in effecting forcible discharge of each article from its resting position.

2. ln a machine for numerically packaging plural substantially round articles and having a support frame:

a, means for arranging articles into plural successions from a random supply and adapted to facilitate flow of the articles therefrom,

each said'succession having a control mechanism adapted to move from a receiving station to a discharge station to receive and release one article at a time from its succession,

means having plural containers movable along a predetermined path to receive articles released by said control mechanism; and

actuating means adapted to successively actuate veach said control mechanism to release one article from each succession to each said plural container upon passage,

. each said control mechanism comprises a rotatable wheel having plural circumferentially spaced, radially open pockets each adapted to receive an article from its companion succession while it is momentarily disposed at the said receiving station and concurrently release another article from another pocket disposed at said discharge station,

f. power means are provided for incremental rotation of said wheel to-move it from station to station; and said actuating means is adapted to actuate each successive control mechanism in timed relationship to the movement of said containers to effect their reception of one article from each said control mechanism, there being a predetermined effective number of said successions equivalent to the quantity of articles to be containerized,

a powered constantly rotating drive shaft is carried by said frame adjacent to said rotating wheel,

each said rotating wheel is mounted upon a shaft for counter rotation; and

clutch means are provided, actuated by said actuating means, and effective to transmit torque from said powered shaft to intermittently rotate said wheels from station to station.

The device of claim 2 wherein;

j. said powered constantly rotating shaft is common to all of said control mechanisms, l

each shaft mounting its wheel for counter rotation is adapted for movement athwart its axis toward and away from said powered shaft,

. companion gears on said shafts disposed and adapted to mesh with each other to impart rotary motion from said powered shaft to each wheel; and

m. means for sequentially moving each said wheel shaft, in-

dependently ofthe others, to engage and disengage the said companion gears, whereby to serve as said clutch.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein;

cams carried by said frame are disposed, one adjacent each wheel,

dogs equal in number to the pockets and fixed for rotation with each wheel about the axis ofthe wheel shaft are disposed and arranged to contact the associated cam and lift the shaft to disengage the companion gears; and automatic reset meanssupporting each cam effective to disengage one dog therefrom to engage the companion gears to effect incremental rotation of the wheel to the next successive dog cam contact.

In a machine for numerically packaging plural substantially round articles and having a support frame:

d. actuating means adapted'to successively actuate each means for arranging articles into plural successions from a random supply and adapted to facilitate flow of the articles therefrom,

. each said succession having a control mechanism adapted to move from a receiving station to a discharge station to receive and release one article at a time from its succession,

. means having plural containers movable along a predetermined path to receive articles released by said control mechanism; and

` said control mechanism to release one article from each f. an inclined oscillating plate at the receiving end of the troughs for effecting movement of articles into the troughs,

g. means are provided to oscillate the troughs out of phase with oscillations of said oscillating plate,

h. an endless belt conveyor adjacent to the oscillating plate is powered to move and disposed upwardly from said plate so that articles carried thereby will roll by gravity to its lower edge; and

i. said plate having a width substantially equal to the diameter of the articles and extending athwart the receiving ends of said troughs whereby articles deposited at random upon said belt conveyor are tumbled to effect a single layer on said plate and thence enter one at a time into the receiving ends of said troughs.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein each said control mechanism comprises;

j. a rotatable wheel having plural circumferentially spaced radially open pockets each adapted to receive an article from its companion succession while it is momentarily disposed at the receiving station and concurrently release another article from another pocket disposed at the discharge station,

k. power means for incremental rotation of said wheel to move it from station to station,

. said actuating means being adapted to actuate each successive control mechanism in timed relationship to the movement of said containers to effect their reception of one article from each said control mechanism there being a predetermined effective number of said successions equivalent to the quantity of articles to be containerized.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein;

m. a powered constantly rotating drive shaft is carried by said frame adjacent to said wheel,

n. said wheel is mounted upon a shaft for counter rotation;

and

o. clutch means are interposed said powered shaft and said wheel, effective to transmit torque from said powered shaft to intermittently rotate said wheel from station to station, said clutch means being actuated by said actuating means.

. The device of claim 7 wherein;

p. said powered constantly rotating shaft is common to all said control mechanisms,

q. each said shaft mounting its wheel for counter rotation is adapted for movement athwart its axis toward and away from said powered shaft,

r. companion gears on said shafts are disposed and adapted to mesh with each other to impart rotary motion from said powered shaft to each wheel; and

. means are provided for sequentially moving each said wheel shaft, independently of the others to engage and disengage the said companion gears, whereby to serve as said clutch.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein;

t. a cam carried by said frame is disposed one adjacent each wheel,

u. dogs equal in number to said pockets and fixed for rotation with each said wheel about the axis of said wheel shaft are disposed and arranged to contact said cam and lift said shaft to disengage the said companion gears; and

v. automatic reset means support each said cam effective to disengage one said dog therefrom to engage said companion gears whereby to effect incremental rotation of said wheel to the next successive dog cam contact.

10. The method of packaging rollable articles of approximately the same size comprising the steps of:

a. supporting a horizontally aligned row of generally vertically extending successions of discrete articles in engagement with each other for discharge of the lowermost article of each succession from a fixed discharge point at the lower end of each succession and for intermittent downward movement of each succession upon discharge of said lowermost article, b. moving a row of contalner supports each having a container longitudinally of said row of supports continuously past and adjacent to the discharge points of said successions with said containers in article-receiving positions for receiving the lowermost article discharged from any of said discharge points,

. moving said lowermost articles from said successions to resting positions spaced from their companion successions,

d. forcibly discharging each article from its resting position into each container under mechanical force applied to each article during movement of said containers past said discharge points, and at the same time e. moving the next companion successions in said rows of successions to said resting positions preparatory to vdischarge therefrom,

f. said discharge of said articles from said resting positions and said movement of said companion successions to said resting positions being effected by movement of said container supporting means past said discharge points. 

1. In a machine, including a main frame, for numerically packaging plural rollable articles of approximately the same size and shape: a. article-supporting means for supporting said articles in plural successions for movement to separate discharge points providing a leading end article in each succession adjacent said discharge point for discharge therefrom, and a trailing end article at the opposite end of each succession, b. feed means for feeding articles from a random supply to the trailing ends of said successions for maintaining a supply of articles in each succession in engagement with each other, c. container-supporting means for supporting and moving plural containers in a row in one direction longitudinally of said row past said discharge points in article-receiving positions for receiving a leading end article in each container from each of said successions, d. control means including an article-moving and supporting device engageable with the leading article in each succession for moving each such article away from its companion succession to a resting position spaced from said companion succession, said article-moving device being actuated by movement of each container-supporting means past each of said discharge points for forcibly discharging each such article from said resting position into each container during movement of said containers therepast and for moving said companion succession to said resting position for discharge into the next container in said row upon actuation thereof, and e. power means operatively connected with said element for actuating the latter under power in effecting forcible discharge of each article from its resting position.
 2. In a machine for numerically packaging plural substantially round articles and having a support frame: a. means for arranging articles into plural successions from a random supply and adapted to facilitate flow of the articles therefrom, b. each said succession having a control mechanism adapted to move from a receiving station to a discharge station to receive and release one article at a time from its succession, c. means having plural containers movable along a predetermined path to receive articles released by said control mechanism; and d. actuating means adapted to successively actuate each said control mechanism to release one article from each succession to each said plural container upon passage, e. each said control mechanism comprises a rotatable wheel having plural circumferentially spaced, radially open pockets each adapted to receive an article from its companion succession while it is momentarily disposed at the said receiving station and concurrently release another article from another pocket disposed at said discharge station, f. power means are provided for incremental rotation of said wheel to move it from station to station; and said actuating means is adapted to actuate each successive control mechanism in timed relationship to the movement of said containers to effect their reception of one article from each said control mechanism, there being a predetermined effective number of said successions equivalent to the quantity of articles to be containerized, g. a powered constantly rotating drive shaft is carried by said frame adjacent to said rotating wheel, h. each said rotating wheel is mounted upon a shaft for counter rotation; and i. clutch means are provided, actuated by said actuating means, and effective to transmit torque from said powered shaft to intermittently rotate said wheels from station to station.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein; j. said powered constantly rotating shaft is common to all of said control mechanisms, k. each shaft mounting its wheel for counter rotation is adapted for movement athwart its axis toward and away from said powered shaft, l. companion gears on said shafts disposed and adapted to mesh with each other to impart rotary motion from said powered shaft to each wheel; and m. means for sequentially moving each said wheel shaft, independently of the others, to engage and disengage the said companion gears, whereby to serve as said clutch.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein; n. cams carried by said frame are disposed, one adjacent each wheel, o. dogs equal in number to the pockets and fixed for rotation with each wheel about the axis of the wheel shaft are disposed and arranged to contact the associated cam and lift the shaft to disengage the companion gears; and p. automatic reset means supporting each cam effective to disengage one dog therefrom to enGage the companion gears to effect incremental rotation of the wheel to the next successive dog cam contact.
 5. In a machine for numerically packaging plural substantially round articles and having a support frame: a. means for arranging articles into plural successions from a random supply and adapted to facilitate flow of the articles therefrom, b. each said succession having a control mechanism adapted to move from a receiving station to a discharge station to receive and release one article at a time from its succession, c. means having plural containers movable along a predetermined path to receive articles released by said control mechanism; and d. actuating means adapted to successively actuate each said control mechanism to release one article from each succession to each said plural container upon passage, e. a series of inclined troughs down which the articles will flow by gravity; and f. an inclined oscillating plate at the receiving end of the troughs for effecting movement of articles into the troughs, g. means are provided to oscillate the troughs out of phase with oscillations of said oscillating plate, h. an endless belt conveyor adjacent to the oscillating plate is powered to move and disposed upwardly from said plate so that articles carried thereby will roll by gravity to its lower edge; and i. said plate having a width substantially equal to the diameter of the articles and extending athwart the receiving ends of said troughs whereby articles deposited at random upon said belt conveyor are tumbled to effect a single layer on said plate and thence enter one at a time into the receiving ends of said troughs.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein each said control mechanism comprises; j. a rotatable wheel having plural circumferentially spaced radially open pockets each adapted to receive an article from its companion succession while it is momentarily disposed at the receiving station and concurrently release another article from another pocket disposed at the discharge station, k. power means for incremental rotation of said wheel to move it from station to station, l. said actuating means being adapted to actuate each successive control mechanism in timed relationship to the movement of said containers to effect their reception of one article from each said control mechanism there being a predetermined effective number of said successions equivalent to the quantity of articles to be containerized.
 7. The device of claim 5 wherein; m. a powered constantly rotating drive shaft is carried by said frame adjacent to said wheel, n. said wheel is mounted upon a shaft for counter rotation; and o. clutch means are interposed said powered shaft and said wheel, effective to transmit torque from said powered shaft to intermittently rotate said wheel from station to station, said clutch means being actuated by said actuating means.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein; p. said powered constantly rotating shaft is common to all said control mechanisms, q. each said shaft mounting its wheel for counter rotation is adapted for movement athwart its axis toward and away from said powered shaft, r. companion gears on said shafts are disposed and adapted to mesh with each other to impart rotary motion from said powered shaft to each wheel; and s. means are provided for sequentially moving each said wheel shaft, independently of the others to engage and disengage the said companion gears, whereby to serve as said clutch.
 9. The device of claim 8 wherein; t. a cam carried by said frame is disposed one adjacent each wheel, u. dogs equal in number to said pockets and fixed for rotation with each said wheel about the axis of said wheel shaft are disposed and arranged to contact said cam and lift said shaft to disengage the said companion gears; and v. automatic reset means support each said cam effective to disengage one said dog therefrom to engage said companion gEars whereby to effect incremental rotation of said wheel to the next successive dog cam contact.
 10. The method of packaging rollable articles of approximately the same size comprising the steps of: a. supporting a horizontally aligned row of generally vertically extending successions of discrete articles in engagement with each other for discharge of the lowermost article of each succession from a fixed discharge point at the lower end of each succession and for intermittent downward movement of each succession upon discharge of said lowermost article, b. moving a row of container supports each having a container longitudinally of said row of supports continuously past and adjacent to the discharge points of said successions with said containers in article-receiving positions for receiving the lowermost article discharged from any of said discharge points, c. moving said lowermost articles from said successions to resting positions spaced from their companion successions, d. forcibly discharging each article from its resting position into each container under mechanical force applied to each article during movement of said containers past said discharge points, and at the same time e. moving the next companion successions in said rows of successions to said resting positions preparatory to discharge therefrom, f. said discharge of said articles from said resting positions and said movement of said companion successions to said resting positions being effected by movement of said container supporting means past said discharge points. 